I'm a magical girl in the future

Chapter 166 Praise Me More

Winters in Yuehua City aren't too cold, and it rarely snows. However, it's almost noon now, and the people who went for their morning run have already left.

In the desolate park, two petite figures sat on a bench.

Lingbo, wearing the clothes she and Fuping had just bought at the children's clothing store, sat on a bench, staring expressionlessly at the empty path ahead.

Meanwhile, the duckweed lay peacefully on the bench, using Lingbo's legs as a pillow.

Enjoying Lingbo's lap pillow, Fuping looked displeased and pouted in dissatisfaction.

"Ayanami-chan, your expression is too stiff."

—

Lingbo lowered her head and looked at the duckweed.

"You're not enjoying being alone with me at all. At least show a little bit of happiness, right?"

"I'm very happy."

Lingbo answered in a flat tone, which seemed very perfunctory.

"You can't tell at all!"

"

"7

Seeing Fu Ping's dissatisfied expression, Ling Bo didn't say anything more, but instead raised her head and continued to look ahead calmly.

Seeing Lingbo's lack of interest, Fuping extended a finger and gently poked Lingbo's cheek. "Then at least—pat my head, okay?"

————Never mind————Let's just consider this as comforting a child.

She reached out her right hand and placed it on Fu Ping's head. The feel of her soft, long hair reminded her of how she used to comfort Xiao Ling. Then, Ling Bo began to gently stroke her.

"Hehehe————That's it————"

Lingbo didn't speak, but continued what she was doing. She could sense that Fuping seemed to have an unusual obsession with this intimate gesture.

After enjoying the moment, Fu Ping spoke again, her tone tinged with loneliness.

"Speaking of which—although I've decided I can no longer act cute towards Captain Noah—I still can't help it—"

After dealing with that corrupted Qinglan in Fengsu City, I simply reported the mission's completion to the captain. And last time—when Senior Huixiang was in danger, I was the one who arrived in time to rescue her.

Lingbo listened quietly. She had heard about these things from Noah as well. Fuping was now an indispensable core member of the team.

"Captain Noah praised me for growing up."

"If it were before, upon hearing such praise, I would definitely pester her to say a few more words of praise. But now—I can't do it."

"Now that I've decided to become Captain Noah's true teammate, I can no longer exercise that 'capricious right' that's solely mine."

After listening to Fu Ping's words, Ling Bo's opinion of her changed considerably.

This child is trying to sever her dependence on Noah in her own way, forcing herself to stand by Noah's side again as an "equal comrade-in-arms".

"We can't go to the captain's place anymore—that right to be willful—can it be temporarily—deposited with Rei-chan?"

"In place of Captain Noah, could you please—spoil me a little bit more, okay?"

"—For example, could you give me another good compliment?"

Lingbo lowered her head slightly, looking at Fuping's expectant eyes.

Although it was clear that Fu Ping's behavior was merely a way of seeing herself as a "Noah's meal replacement," Ling Bo herself didn't seem to care much. Rather, if it was just about comforting a child like that, Ling Bo wouldn't object.

"—You did a great job, Duckweed."

Lingbo lowered her head gently, and the stroking motion of her hands became even more tender.

"Whether you were taking down the enemy alone or supporting your comrades, you did an excellent job. You protected everyone, that's remarkable."

Fu Ping looked at Ling Bo's face, and her expression faltered slightly.

"————Um————Bo-chan————"

"Um?

'

Why is your expression so gentle when you praise me? You're usually expressionless.

This is the first time I've seen you with such an expression; I'm a little unaccustomed to it.

Lingbo was also a little stunned. Her expression—was that really it? After thinking for a moment, she replied softly, "Because I genuinely think you did a great job, and these compliments are sincere—so, I guess I unconsciously showed this expression."

"?"

Fu Ping looked at Ling Bo in surprise, then immediately sat up and stretched out her arms to hug Ling Bo tightly. "Ling Bo-chan~ Ling Bo-chan~ Ling Bo-chan~ Ling Bo-chan~!"

"Hehe, even though I know you're not the real Captain Noah, I'm still just as happy to receive such sincere praise from Rei-chan."

This time, Lingbo did not reject Fuping's embrace, but instead put her arms around Fuping's back, responding to Fuping's expectations.

"Um—Ayanami-chan, I've been talking about Captain Noah—are you angry?"

"...

""

"I know very well that treating Ayanami-chan like another Captain Noah, wanting to act cute towards her—that's just selfish of me, isn't it?"

"You said it yourself—what I'm doing is called a 'meal replacement,' right? Although I'm reluctant to admit it—you're right—I do see Ayanami-chan as a substitute for Noah-senpai."

"But, Ayanami-chan is so gentle, and she's willing to genuinely praise me—that's where my new right to be willful resides—"

"Compared to you—I'm so despicable—I'm sorry, Rei-chan."

The ever-smiling Fu Ping now had a choked voice.

Feeling the slightly trembling body in her arms, Lingbo gently stroked Fuping's back.

This child—was more vulnerable than she had imagined. Although she was determined not to seek Noah's protection again, however—

Perhaps it's not the right time yet.

"Don't worry, I won't mind. After all—Noah is me." If she can't do something, she can just ask me.

"You've done more than enough. It's admirable that you're willing to grow on your own and not try to get on Noah's good side. Since you're Noah's junior, you're also my junior. If you want to seek refuge with me, then feel free to come."

Fu Ping let out a low sob and gave a soft "hmm". Then, Fu Ping released her arms from Ling Bo and continued to lie on Ling Bo's lap.

This time, however, she didn't lie on her back, but on her side, so that Lingbo couldn't see her face.

Lingbo placed her hand on her head again, stroking it gently with even more tenderness than before.

What happened to this child before?

This was a question that Lingbo had been curious about ever since she last visited Fuping's home. Fuping came from a well-off family and must have had a happy and fulfilling childhood. What could have happened to her that required Noah to "rescue her from the abyss"?

After a long while, until Fu Ping's emotions had completely calmed down, Ling Bo slowly spoke.

"duckweed."

"Um?

'

"You and Noah—how exactly did you two first meet?"